Area Guide - Tophams Hotel

Originally a nineteenth century town house located in the heart of Belgravia, the hotel is renowned for its old-world charm and modern luxury.

All 48 guest bedrooms are tastefully decorated and ensure the ultimate in comfort and relaxation. If you are looking for a traditional yet modern English hotel experience, this is the place for you.

The Tophams Hotel enjoys an ideal location close to Buckingham Palace with Knightsbridge, the West End, and numerous shops and restaurants just a short walk away. The underground network, the bus terminal and all major airports are also easily accessible making this refurbished establishment an ideal starting point from which to discover the bustling city.

A Guide to London

Whatever your reason for visiting, London is a city that has something for everyone! London has successfully fused its grand heritage with modern living, and attracts a wide range of visitors every year. Whether, it's sightseeing in Trafalgar Square, shopping on Oxford Street, or entertainment in the West End, you will be spoilt for choice. The capital also has a huge choice of restaurants, bars and London hotels will suit any budget.While the areas to the north of the Thames are renowned for housing many of London's traditional attractions, e.g. Buckingham Palace, to the south of the river there is still much to see with many of the newer and more contemporary attractions, e.g. The Tate Modern. If you are on a budget, there are also many free attractions throughout the city. London is Europe's largest city and it is easy to get overwhelmed and not make the most of your visit, so it's worth planning your trip and familiarising yourself with its districts before you travel.

A ‘Flyaway’ ticket costs £55.00 which allows up to 4 people to travel to and from London.

Taxi

Cost: £90.00.

There are 2 operators from outside the terminal: Alpha Taxis and CABCO Taxis.

Journey time: 60 minutes.

Greenline coach (757)

Departs: peak 15-20 minutes; off-peak every 30 minutes.

Journey time: 90 minutes.

Cost: £11.00, return £16.00.

By Rail

London has 6 main railway stations:

Euston: Main destination for passengers arriving from Glasgow and the North West, via the West Coast Main Line. Hotels near Euston.

Kings Cross/St Pancras: This is the main destination for travellers arriving from Edinburgh and the North East, via the East Coast Main Line. It is also the new home of Eurostar, and is therefore the main destination for visitors arriving from Europe. Hotels near Kings Cross Station / Hotels near St Pancras.

Victoria: Serves Brighton and other areas in South West England. It is also the terminal station for trains arriving from Gatwick Airport. Hotels near Victoria station.

Liverpool Street: The main arrival point for visitors arriving from Stansted Airport. It also serves East Anglia, some East coast destinations and North East London. Hotels near Liverpool Street Station.

Paddington: The terminal of the Heathrow Express. It also provides transport links to south Eastern areas such as Bath, Cardiff, and Bristol. Hotels near Paddington Station.

All railways stations have Tube stations attached, so getting around is easy. Remember to keep your ticket until you have completely left the station, as you may be asked to produce it.

Advance bookings can sometimes mean lower fares. Also check the price for 2 singles instead of a return ticket, as this can sometimes be more cost effective.

Children under 11 travelling with an adult ticket holder can travel for free, children over 11 can travel for £1.00. This applies for up to 4 children at any one time in off-peak hours.

By Bus

London's bus network has, with the arrival of the congestion charge, become much more user friendly. If you want to get a good view of the city this is a good way to travel. The system also has an effective night bus service (prefixed with letter N) should you be planning a night on the town or a late trip to the theatre.

Tickets and Prices

Cost: single ticket £2.00, day ticket £3.50, 7 day ticket £14.00 (tickets must be purchased before boarding the bus).

Visitor Tickets/Travelcards can be purchased for 1, 3 or 7 days and can be used on buses (displaying the London Buses logo), the Tube, the Docklands Light Railway and National Rail (except Heathrow Express).

Must Sees

It is advisable to book in advance where possible, or reach the major attractions early as they get busier throughout the day. Some attractions offer discounts for booking online e.g. the London Eye, while others charge for advance reservations, e.g. Madame Tussauds.

Buckingham Palace

Opportunity to visit the State Rooms, Royal Mews and the Queen's Gallery.

It is worth paying the Palace a visit to see the 'Changing of the Guard', perhaps one of the most well known displays of British pageantry.

Opening Times:

28th July to 25th September 2007, 09:45-18:00 (admission by timed ticket only).Queen's Gallery: Daily 10:00-17:30 (26th July to 24th September 09:30-17:00).Royal Mews: 25th March to 31st October, Saturday to Thursday 11:00-16:00 (26th July to 4th September 10:00-17:00).Changing of the Guard: April to July, daily at 11:30. August to April, every other day at 11:30.

Changing of the Guard May to July daily at 11:30. August to April every other day at 11:30.

London Eye (The Millenium Wheel)

When it was built, it was the largest ferris wheel in the world, standing at 135m tall. On a clear day you can see 25 miles in each direction. Along the way you will spot the most famous sites of London.

Houses of Parliament & Big Ben

Visit the oldest part of the Palace of Westminster, and experience the vast history attached to the building.

Take a tour to see the intricate workings of Big Ben, England's most famous clock tower.

Opening Times:

All visits must be arranged prior to arrival by application through your local MP.Overseas visitors can only visit during summer recess (2nd August to 30th September), by contacting your local embassy.Overseas visitors can still gain access to the public galleries during parliament by queuing at Saint Stephen's entrance (contact your Embassy prior to visiting the Commons).Tours of Big Ben are only available to UK residents by prior arrangement.

Where to Stay

LateRooms.com has over 500 London Hotels. Whether you are travelling for a 1 night business stay or a short weekend break, you will definitely find something to suit your needs. From 4 & 5 Star Hotels and Luxury Hotels to Cheap London Hotels, LateRooms features a wide range of accommodation in London. When choosing a place to stay it is worth bearing in mind that London is an expensive city, so expect to pay slightly more than other cities within the UK. There are, however, lots of special hotel deals available. LateRooms also lists hotels in London with disabled access.

On the whole, rooms in London do tend to be on the small side in comparison with the rest of the UK, simply because there is so much demand for accommodation in the city, and space is very limited.

LateRooms Tip

For those wishing to stay in central London, it is worth noting that weekends tend to be cheaper than midweek stays because the business travellers go home. LateRooms lists its discount hotel rooms in London here.

If you are travelling with friends or as a family, then our range of apartments are worth considering. London also has an extensive range of B&Bs and small properties in and close tothe centre, which are ideal if you are travelling on a budget. It's also worth considering staying in the suburbs or Docklands area, as transport links to the centre are especially good with the Tube.

It is useful to note that if you book a single room in the UK, and especially in London, you will more than likely be given a single bed; doubles are not always given as standard.

Where to Eat

The quality and choice of dining in London has developed dramatically in recent years, and many of the world's top chefs have chosen London as the place to house their prestigious restaurants. You will also find a fantastic range of affordable options to suit any budget. With flavours from all over the world, you will be spoilt for choice.

West End

The Rock Garden

6/7 The Piazza, Covent Garden, London, WC2E, +44 (0)207 257 8613

Having been established for over thirty years, the Rock Garden offers one of London’s most extensive al fresco dining areas.

They offer an express lunch service (Monday to Thursday) costing £9.95 for 2 courses and £12.95 for 3 courses. Main courses from the à la carte menu start from £10.95.

Papageno

29-31 Wellington Street, London WC2E 7DB, +44 (0)20 7836 4444

Located in the heart of theatre land, the décor has to be seen to be believed. Decorated as an opera set, with bright, lavish colours and materials, diners can choose to sit in one of the opera boxes, or relax in the restaurant.

A varied menu is available with a heavy Turkish influence. The 3 course set menu is priced at £23.50 per person, while main courses on the a la carte menu start from £8.50. A 2 course pre-theatre menu is available for £12.50.

Clarke’s

124 Kensington Church Street, London W8 4BH, +44 (0)20 7221 9225

Having been established for over 20 years, Sally Clarke offers a small select menu for lunch and dinner, which changes on a regular basis and uses fresh ingredients, including mozzarella from Naples and shellfish straight from Scotland. A Californian theme runs through the menu.

South London

Delfina

50 Bermondsey Street, London, SE1, +44 (0)20 7357 0244

Located within the Delfina Galleries, the Delfina restaurant is a hot spot for the artistic community. With its relaxed feel and walls adorned with artwork, the restaurant is a real find amidst the hustle and bustle of London.

The menus change on a fortnightly basis, however please note the limited opening times of Monday to Friday 10:00-15:00, and Friday evening 19:00-22:00.

Going Out... bars, pubs and clubs

London has a huge nightlife scene - whether you fancy a quick pint, a sophisticated cocktail, or dancing 'til dawn. London's main nightlife and bars are located around the West End, but no matter where you are, you will not be short of places to go.

Pubs

London has many traditional pubs located all over the city. Many tend to serve real ale and food. Many of these pubs also lie on original sites and provide an authentic drinking experience.

Bars

For those looking for something more trendy there are a great many bars to suit, ranging from themed to the ultra chic and trendy. Here is a selection:

Absolut Icebar

31-33 Heddon Street, London, +44 (0)207 478 8910

London’s first permanent ice bar is kept at a temperature of -5°C and everything is made completely out of ice.

Entry is restricted to time slots of 40 minutes and costs £12.00-£15.00, but includes a designer thermal cape to keep you warm, and a personal ice glass with a choice of vodka cocktail.

Royal Court

Comedy

London has a vast comedy scene, ranging from traditional places such as the Comedy Store (Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE) to much more individual venues such as Banana Cabaret (77 Bedford Hill Road, SW12 9HD).

Many pubs also offer live comedy nights all over the city.

Live Music

If live music is what you're after, then London has many large venues that are worth visiting:

Most of these venues host popular artists, meaning that tickets must be booked in advance.

There are also a high number of smaller venues catering for every taste. These include:

Ronnie Scott's 47 Frith Street W1D 4HT, Jazz venue.

12 Bar Club 22-23 Denmark Place WC2H 8NL, eclectic range of music.

Dublin Castle 94 Parkway, NW1 7AN, eclectic range of music.

Our new theatre ticket service provides up-to-date show information, including times of performances, ticket prices and availability. Plus, you can book show tickets up to an hour before you go and pick your tickets up on the door. You can even book a theatre dinner package and enjoy a two course meal in a top London restaurant to really make the most of your stay in London.

For the Kids

There are many things for children to do in London:

London Duck Tour

A tour around the streets of London in an amphibious vehicle, taking in most of the major sights including the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and Nelson’s Column. The tour finishes with a trip on the river Thames, in the same vehicle.

Livesey Museum for Children

682 Old Kent Road, London, SE15 1JF

Museum for under 12s.

Fully interactive features.

Opening times:Tuesday to Saturday 10:00-17:00

Prices:FREE

Many of the museums such as the Natural History Museum (nearest tube: South Kensington) and the Science Museum (nearest tube: South Kensington) are also becoming increasingly child friendly, and offer free entry.

For things to do in the evening there is scope to take in one of the many shows aimed at children. For example:

Shopping

Whatever you are looking for, you will find it in London. London's shopping streets and world-famous markets are renowned, and no trip to London would be complete without a sneaky peak inside the world of Harrods (nearest tube: Knightsbridge).Oxford Street is probably the most famous of London's shopping areas, and for this reason does get very busy. Here you will find all the major high street chains including Selfridges. Regent Street offers much of the same kind of thing.For those with plenty of cash to splash, head towards Bond Street and Knightsbridge. You will be sure to spot the odd celebrity milling around these parts, but the shops are very exclusive.London has a great many markets that specialise in different things. The most famous is probably Camden which attracts tourists from far and wide. Portobello Road Market is internationally renowned for its second hand and antique goods. Petticoat Lane Market is a fashion and clothing market. Originally established by the Huguenot weavers who had settled in the area to sell lace and petticoats, it is considered to be one of the oldest surviving markets in Britain. More specialised markets can also be found such as the Borough food market and Smithfield meat market.

Gay & Lesbian

London has a thriving gay and lesbian scene and has a wide community all over London, with bars and clubs located in many of the key hotspots. However, the usual place to head for to find the hub of the gay/lesbian bars is Soho, particularly Old Compton Street.

The Admiral Duncan

54 Old Compton Street, London, W1D 4UB

A well-known place to head for and is particularly busy at the weekend.

GAY Bar

30 Old Compton Street, London, W1D 5JX

The perfect place to start your clubbing evening.

Heaven

Villiers Street, London, WC2N 6NJ

One of the world's most famous gay clubs, and is particularly popular.

Many other venues also hold gay/lesbian nights on certain nights of the week.

London Pride is usually held in June/July, and WorldPride will be hosted in London in 2012. For more information about gay/lesbian London, contact the London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard on +44 (0)207 837 7324